Gibson Melody Maker KZ II

'81 Dark natural finish 22 frets one piece maple body five piece head original gibson tuners two open faced black bobbin humbuckers stop tailpiece standard round-back neck with ohsc fat frets.Rosewood fingerboard. Paid $250 with case at State street Pawn in Chicago. Guy didnt know what he was selling till I made him go get the case. It was dirty and missing strings but it was and is a Gibson.

looks like a melody maker, plays like an sg sounds like a paul. Real gibson humbuckers. who would switch those out? I always said it seemed like the front half of a paul to me. not an sg, though similar. great powerful sound but you can play anything on it.

Standard Norlin Gibson. Great axe. Fine setup, comfortable, easy to play. Bought it used, finish fine except for playing nicks.

Don't drop it off the bandstand and you'll have it forever. Solid, reliable; It isn't going to break unless you break it.

Gibson doesnt talk about it's "failed" models. Bought it used, fix it myself.

I'm a Gibson guy. It's a solidbody Gibson. I play rock, blues, country, jazz, whatever. You can play anything on humbuckers. Aside from Fender maple necks, I like what Gibson makes. Sounds great through a Marshall!

I can't believe there are more KZII fans out there!!! All specs have already been listed...mine would be an '81 if we use the first and fifth dating...

Absolutely amazing....will never sell...

lots of checking and war wounds....

TONS of gigs done without a backup....replaced machine heads and complete refret last year...also wore through the bridge and replaced with tonepros...

Played the **** out of this guitar....and still do!!

Little to no info from Gibson!!!!

You will have to remove from my cold dead hands!!!

Fell in love with this guitar in a jersey shop back in 80 or 82. It was unfinished. Strange. The light colored wood was lovely. It was 150.00 bucks that I could not afford. Turned out to be a bday present from my folks. Sweet. Some guy said rub lemon oil into it and I did and it went from light natural wood (like out of a lumberyard) to a very deep mahogony tone. Always sort of regretted it but it probably saved the wood. Always wondered why it was sold unfinished...
I have looked for years for any reference to this guitar and never found one till this evening on this list.
The serial number is slightly mis-stamped. Looks like 80(8 or 9 or 3)10034.

I have a 58 LP Junior that screams and this KZll stacks up right along with it. A little bit mellower perhaps. It rings!

The action is great. Smooth playing neck, low and consistent. The finish is as described. No scratches, dents or visible wear.

Its a tank. Survived caseless, the NY punk scene 82 to whenever.

There's customer support?

Very sentimental about this guitar.

Really rare model.
I know actually the following serial numbers:
- 80630051, 80800043 (green Kluson LP tuning pegs)
- 80800024, 80810031, 80850073 (chrome "Gibson" tuning pegs)
- 80880046, 80880058 (stopbar tailpiece moved away from the tune-o-matic bridge)
These seven guitars were made in March 80, between the 3rd and the 28th.
- 81611077, 81611078 (football strap buttons, stopbar placed as previously)
These two models were both made in 81, June 10th.

I own 3 of these KZs [EADGBE, DADGAD, DGDGBD] and I'm really possessed by this model and its dirty fingers! Super light body, real thin and easily playable neck! A pure happiness.

Plug in a Marshall and let's go! This kind of guitar gives not much sustain but a round and warm full sound.

Solid as a tank, but you know who you are.

I play guitar since 76. Les Paul, SG, Strats... KZ-II remains the best of my favorite pets. Norlin's years but a real nice work from the Gibson craftsmen.

I continue to search infos, serial numbers and pics of this model through ebay and guitar shops since a long time. If you own one, don't hesitate to share your infos and contact me!

Man is it hard to find information on the KZII. I just got back from the NAMM show and no one knows squat or has ever heard of it. I bought mine in 1980 and Andress Sound in Santa Rosa, CA for $500. I replaced the black pickup surrounds and switch plate with the cream ones to make it stand out a little. I also replaced the tuners with Grovers because it didn't want to stay in tune. Of course I saved all the original stuff. This guitar has always sounded great especially when soloing with the front pickup. It's got some guts so turn it up!
The one thing that I don't like is that the neck is a bit heavier than the superlight body so when you let go it tends to drop. Oh well, just hang on and have fun. Keep pickin people!

I can't believe there other people who own a KZ-II!!!! I've bugged Gibson about this guitar for years and they know dick about it. I bought mine in 1980 at Tom's music in Victorville CA, new for $600.00. It is by far the sweetest thing I've ever played, and I'm pushing 50. I told my wife I'm gonna be buried with this guitar (that and my 2000 Honda Prelude). I did have to replace the pick-ups with some badass Seymore-Duncans, I kinda wanted to keep it stock, but these are great pick ups. It's light, fast, beautiful and sounds above par. In short, a work of art. Don't let go of these, guys. We have a collectors item. Gibson did tell me thaere weren't many made. We're in an exclusive club. Rock on!

It's a true rocker, quiet, rich, full Gibson sound.

A work of art!

I've owned it since 1980 and it withstood some treacherous battle damage. 'Nuff said.

Never had warranty work, never needed it. Replaced pickups-non-warranty. I don't remember how long the warranty was. It's over a quarter century old!

Playing since 1973 (you do the math). I would never lose it, but if it were stolen, suicide would be a thought. Nothing else can compare with this. It's great without any additions-In fact additions would ruin it.

made in Kalamazoo, 1980, by Gibson ( heh ).
24 fret 3 piece Les Paul style mahogany neck.
Melody-Maker style double cutaway mahogany body, natural finish ( unfortunately sanded away here and there--oh well, brought down the price...)
Neck and bridge humbuckers ( black, exposed ), SG-style p/u switch and tone/volume controls.
tune-o-matic bridge. gibson steel tulip-style tuners.
very cool-looking in a trashy, NY Dolls sort of way...

I play several styles of rock, from Flamin Groovies style pop to Johnny Thunders punk.
Guitar has a fairly nice ringing tone for the Byrdsy pop sound, but really shines on the 70-80s style punk. It positively growls, even while waiting to be played. Gets a good Angus Young type lead sound as well, with nice fat notes all over the frets.
I would like to replace the bridge pu with a Seymore Duncan, just to see what it would sound like then. Even more evil I bet.
Right now sounds just as good, or better, than guitars that cost twice as much.

action was WAY low and bridge needed some adjusting--my gf took care of that for me ( thanks hon...)
except for the sanding everything else is fine--for a 25 year-old guitar it gleams--hardware is flawless!
no cracks or dings anywhere--seems much more solid than typical MM guitar.
I have a 68 MM SG that is quite fragile compared to this.

This guitar seems tough as nails-I imagine I would have to throw it out of a window to break it.
I think it will definitely outlast me, barring new developements in cryonics.
One of the strap buttons was moved from upper horn to neck-joint area, i prefer it that way. I have strap locks on it now.
Oh yeah I can depend on it--I would use it without a backup for sure...

I e-mailed Gibson the serial number to try to find out more about this guitar. They never got back to me.
I wish I could learn more about it--outside of one line in the Blue Book I have found nothing!

I've been playing since 1970 I've owned vintage Strats, SG's and Melody-Makers---this is one of the nicest guitars I've owned.
Although I can't find out much about it, when I pull it out my musician friends go "oooooooh".
I'm not going to wait until it is stolen I am looking for another one now---my GF likes playing it so much we need another!!
Final--one solid, butt-kickin Gibson.

Born March 7,1982- 12th instrument stamped that day. Blessed are the beasts and the children of the beasts. Made in Kalamazoo, Michigan
right before the move to Nashville. 22 fret- solid top- mahogany body
neck and soul- bobbin H/H config.- controls vol./vol./tone- 3 way pu
selector+ 3 way coil tap. Double cutaway natural mahog finish-nicely
checked and scarred from 20 years of rocking. Tune-o-matic bridge and
orig tulip tuners. Les Paul neck (Gibson was using up stock of old
parts)-Lovely neck- wide flat frets- plays like an illusion- rosewood fingerboard as smooth as 21 year old scotch should be.
All the stuff you want, none of the crap you don't.

Tone is so subjective that I won't bore you with details but IMHO
this guitar rocks. Allan H. to Angus Y. its all here. Throat,Growl,
Clank,Spank,Chunk,Thunk,Funk,Gunk,Crack,Smack,Slam,Sparkle,Shine,
Shimmer,Starspray and other colors of sound as well........

Factory gone. Everything else is just awesome- this axe oozes vibe.

2 words: WAR HORSE. This don't seem like no breakable Gibson (you know who you are) it's beat up OK but I would use it anywhere without
backup or a backplate-it's missing-for that matter. It's got football
shaped strap pegs that appear to be holding up fine. I know it says
not to give glowing reviews, but I love this fucking guitar.

No Never Why?

If stolen I would find a way to carry on- although I doubt I'll find another lover like this one. God Bless